Inspiring Athletes

Starting next Tuesday (May 29th), Inspiring Athletes will launch a 20-part series that will feature 16 Olympic hopefuls, three Olympic legends and a special 2012 Summer Olympics preview. This special series will lead up to the London Games that kicks off on July 27th and concludes on August 12th.

Here’s a sneak peak at some of the elite athletes you can look forward to hearing from over the next eight weeks:

David Boudia (diving) – 2008 Olympian and 2007 Pan American Games gold medalist

Tamika Catchings (basketball) – 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medalist

Lauren Cheney (soccer) – 2008 Olympic gold medalist

Bryan Clay (track and field) – 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon

Kevin Durant (basketball) – reigning NBA scoring champion and 2010 World Championship gold medalist

Brady Ellison (archery) – 2008 Olympian and 2011 Pan American Games gold medalist

Kendrick Farris (weightlifting) – 2008 Olympian and 2010 Pan American Games gold medalist

Missy Franklin (swimming) – 2012 Olympic hopeful and world record holder

Ryan Hall (track and field) – 2008 Olympian and fastest American-born marathon runner

Dawn Harper (track and field) – 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meter hurdles

Tobin Heath (soccer) – 2008 Olympic gold medalist

Jonathan Horton (gymnastics) – 2008 Olympic silver and bronze medalist

Hunter Kemper (triathlon) – three-time Olympian and 2003 Pan American Games gold medalist

Kara Lawson (basketball) – 2008 Olympic gold medalist

Brittany Viola (diving) – 2012 Olympic hopeful

Jesse Williams (track and field) – 2008 Olympian and 2011 World Championship gold medalist in the high jump

And check out Chad Bonham’s latest book Glory of the Games that features 18 past and present Olympians such as Shannon Miller, Tamika Catchings, Josh Davis, Ryan Hall, Dave Johnson and Kevin Durant discussing various biblical principles that have helped them succeed as elite international athletes.

Blake Griffin might be an NBA superstar now, but he will never forget his best friend Wilson Holloway. The two became close while playing basketball at Oklahoma Christian School and that bond grew even deeper as Holloway struggled (and eventually lost his battle) with Hodgkins Lymphoma during a brief but meaningful football career at The University of Tulsa.

Last week, as the NBA playoffs kicked off, ESPN revisited Griffin and Holloway’s touching story.

Click the link below to watch:

Blake Griffin and Wilson Holloway

Earlier Saturday, White Sox pitcher Philip Humber threw the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball history. Read more about the details in this New York Times article.

But thanks to the keen eye of my good friend Ash Greyson, I want to share with you Humber’s Twitter profile message that allowed him to deflect the praise away from himself and points towards Jesus in the aftermath of his amazing accomplishment.

If you want to follow Humber on Twitter, click HERE.

Earlier this month, Auburn head football coach Gene Chizik traveled to Liberia on a mission trip and was joined by team chaplain Chette Williams and student-athletes Clint Moseley, Emory Blake, Daren Bates, John Sullen, Dee Ford, Kenneth Carter and T’Sharvan Bell. It was a life-changing experience for all the young men, most of which had never traveled outside the United States.

“You really can’t even describe it in words,” Bates told the Ledger-Enquirer. “Going out and helping those people, even though they saw it as us helping them, they really were helping each and every one of us.”

Chizik has helped organize a trip like this before. He went with some players to the Dominican Republic in 2010. Chizik spoke to Inspiring Athletes last year and talked about how his position as a national championship coach has increased his influence as a Christian leader.

“When I start thanking God, I’m thanking Him for the platform He’s given me to lead, the platform He’s given me to be in situations where I have been able to overcome insurmountable odds and where I’ve been able to express to a team the importance of faith and believing in each other,” he said.

Read more of that interview with Chizik by clicking the link below:

A conversation with Gene Chizik